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littleblackduck — trainwreck
Published: 2006-11-20 17:20:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 4104; Favourites: 62; Downloads: 39
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Description
This piece is from my thesis work. It is a screenprint (silk screen) on wood. Materials: Wood, ink, varnish. In my screenprints I often make one-off's like this one rather than print a series (set).Photograph is vintage... very old.
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Comments: 107
Thanks Noodle!!!! I appreciate cha looking at my work!
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No problem 
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Thanks again then!
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Thank You! What draws you to this work over my others, if you don't mind me asking?
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emm hard to say, just catches the eye like a flytrap!!
i'd say it's a piece that takes time to understand - and i love brainwrecking
plus, the technique in new to me and is of so much interest as an artistic way of expression that it made me look it up.
could you spare a couple of words on how you made it?
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Thank you!
Sure.
The image is a vintage image.
I altered it in Photoshop.
Coarse halftone.
Transferred to silk screen,
Printed Black on to thin piece of smooth wood,
Red dye, hand applied
And also some hand painting.
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It was called Childhood From a Perspective of Loss. It was about how I used my art to deal with my father's death, he died when I was 7. Anyway, the show went very well.
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Art is a good way to deal with loss
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No, unfortunately not. I just write about it (I used to have a journal, now I write in my blog 
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It has been for me. Do you do that?
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I'm sorry
I know that it had to be hard to work with such a personal and painfull theme. Or it wasn't?
Is not the same, I know, but I had a bad experience when I was a child and I don't think I could transform it in something else, and not because I'm afraid that everybody sees it, is like if I make something with it will be real.
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Awww it's okay, that was long ago now. But it was liberating to work with such a theme. For some reason, dealing with death, loss, sorrow, makes me feel alive. That sounds strange, even to me. But in art, it is what makes me *feel* and that is what drives me to make art, and look at art. I do like eye candy art, like pretty women, and anime, animation, and other happy silly things, but they don't truly touch me. I don't know... I am sort of melancholy, and rather than make me feel worse, melancholy art often makes me feel better.
It is interesting what you said... Like the American Indians did not want their picture taken because it might steal their spirit... Strange. I like that you have that fear. That is powerful, and something to think about when you make art. Not that you have to deal with your experience directly. But you might spy on it in your psyche, sneak up on it... maybe.
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Yes, I have, because is part of who I am. Is funny that you mention that, about the native americans. When I was a child I didn't like pictures of me, or mirrors.
I don't consider myself, and I don't think that anybody should consider as an unilateral person, is like thinking that life is black and white. Life and dead is part of us, as is happiness and sorrow, and melancholy is a very important feeling. But is just the way we're educated, religion, social rules that we have to follow. And I wonder how buddist or thaoist or somebody with other religions sees life and dead, what the think about and feel about. Is so frustating that in my city we don't have people from other cultures. I need to move to a bigger place and start to dream in a different language.
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You have pretty thoughts
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this technique is very unique. i like it and the motive is very well selected
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Thank you so much for commenting and liking my work, it means a lot to me.
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I really like this a lot, the composition, the color, the raster dots in the black printed part...excellent!
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You obviously had access to photo emulsion screen printing materials and techniques for this peice. I like this peice with the detail in the black bromide look of the photo and the more ... looking for the right word here ... robust/in your face nature of the red colour. The wood offers its colour and textures as well and is almost a 3rd colour really. I don't think it would work as well on paper.
I like it very much.
Alas I do not have access to such sophisticated screen printing techniques anymore
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I don't either, since I graduated. But you know what? Me and John, (lol, like you know him 
As far as the print... I made three, and on the one displayed, it was built out from the wall as well... I should have documented better, but that piece sold in my masters show.
I can help you design an exposure unit. And I can tell you some really low tech ways to get your positives, and cheaply!
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I think I might be interested in knowing how to do a cheap set up for this. I am a high school art teacher in New Zealand and I have a redundant dark room that is not being used and am wondering if I could use that for doing this on a small scale maybe. When I was at design school we did really huge screens for printing lengths of fabric with lost repeats and stuff like that and I think the fact that all the gear do make the screens had to be so big has made me sort of dismiss that I might be able to do it on a smaller scale.
We had a vaccum set up with a black light back then tho and am not sure how I could get that working.
I'm definitly interested in knowing how to set it up but would have to sorce everything here in NZ I think. I look forward to hearing more from you -- maybe in notes 
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1) What we did was simply build a light box, and fill it with flourescent bulbs.
2) We had no vacuum System or rubber blanket, but I have used that type.
3) We Put the screen on the glass of the light box (positive in between the glass and screen of course), and then, black felt, then, foam core, then 6 or 7 pieces of plywood to weight it down flat.
4) Expose!
What I used for positives:
1) I made my imagery and then converted it to a halftone in photoshop.
2) Printed out the halftone - you have to experiment with halftone dot size and shape. This is a variable depending on Preference, Image size, and how fine your screen mesh is...
3) I enlarged the copy at a Copy Center. There is a copy machine at the Copy Centers that can make copies up to 3 feet wide and it comes out on a roll. This normal Copy is my positive.
The xerox copies actually work fine. They just take longer to expose.
I have used various things for positives:
Xeroxes on normal paper, xeroxes on Vellum -- vellum exposes faster, Positives made from Kodak Orth Litho Film, and xeroxes made on transparency sheets.
Does any of this help? It is really an inexpensive way to work. You have to experiment with exposure times, because that will vary by how many bulbs you have in your box and what type they are and how bright.
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Yes this is helpful. I have a very helpful janitor at work as well that can build anything for next to nothing.
I will have to sorce the emulsion here in New Zealand tho before it will be worth my while sorting it out. I know it is avaliable but just where I'm not sure. Do you have a brand name of the emulsion you used please that might help me start looking at least.
Thanks yes this is helpful
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I will look through my notes for the emulsion name...
You said: I will have to sorce the emulsion here in New Zealand tho before it will be worth my while sorting it out...
What does sorce the emulsion mean? Do you mean you need to choose one and find a supplier?
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Can you order internationally, or does it have to be in New Zealand?
Dick Blick sells Ulano QTX which is good for coarser screens like textiles: [link]
Ulano Site: [link]
Here is a Ulano distributor in New Zealand: Auckalnd...
UNIVERSAL SCREEN SUPPLIES LTD.
7 Basalt Place
East Tamaki
P.O. BOX 58-673
AUCKLAND
P: +64 9 274 3831
F: +64 9 274 3833
sales@uniscreen.co.nz
[link]
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Importing and exchange rates mean that it would put the price up beyond pratical levels if I'm trying to save money.
I do know a couple of commercial screen printing firms that I can go to and ask so thanks.
This info is fine thanks.
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Okay... If you have more questions just ask.
Welcome.
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I'd love to try some silk screen printing one day. It looks amazing, and fun too! You have two 
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Thank you I appreciate you faving and looking!
Screenprinting is really neat, you may like it!
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Thank You for looking at my work and thank you for the nice comment!
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wow,this is super cool!definitely my favourite of all your works,i love the red,the idea,the whole thing,its awesome!
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Thanks so much Spooky! You are sweet! To make so many comments on my work! I appreciate you for taking the time! And thanks for the compliments!
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hahah no problem,your work is great!
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Thanks so much Cherrrry!!!!!
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wow that colour is incredible..i've always wanted to try screen printing an this makes me more determined...this is so beautiful-is there a story behind the photograph?
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There is no story that I know about... The roadbed apparently... subsided! I like it because I like disaster photos... I like the idea too... that your track can come asunder when you least expect.
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ooo scary thought..
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Thank you Kayla! I appreciate you looking at my work!
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